Vending machine



June 24, 1930. D. LAZAR VENDING- MACHINE s Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 21.1927 INVENTOR 02m? ATTORNEY BYM June 24, 1930. D. LAZAR' 1,757,584

vrmnme MACHINE- Filed Dec. 21, 192'? 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 '1 r I r 1 I 1 I II a r 4 I INViEN'fOR 2A 1 102A ATTORNEY Patented June 24, 1939 PATENTOFFICE DAVE LAZAR, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK VENDING MACHINE Applicationfiled December 21,1 1927. Serial No; 241,534.

This invention relates to improvements in vending machines and hasreference partic ularly to means incorporated in the coin receiving andoperating mechanisms of such .5 devices for detecting and rejectingslugs, washers and other illegal means of exchange used byunscrupulouspersons to operate'a machine of this character.

The object of this invention is to provide a vending machine of specialdesign with devices which will detect and refuse to per mit the vendingmechanism to operate unless the proper coin is inserted in exchange forthe article being offered for sale. This object is accomplished by meansof the mechanism hereinafter described and set forth in the claim andillustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawings in which, Figure1 is a plan view of a section of a vending machine showing two units,one thereof in discharge position and the other in position ready toreceive a coin 5 Figure 2 is a substantially longitudinal sectional viewtaken through one unit on lines 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is aperspective view of a portion of the vending machine looking from therear with parts removed and others broken away to disclose otherwisehidden parts; Figure 4 is a sectional view of a section of the coin slotillustrating the means used to stop passa e of a washer towards thereleasing mec' anism; Figure 5 is a sectional view of another section ofthe coin slot which shows the means used to dis charge coins or slugshaving a smaller diameter than that of the proper coin intended to beused; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of a device introduced into thecoin slot to prevent coins or slugs which are thinner than ordinarycoins from passing on the releasing mechanism. Figure 7 is a plan viewof a'section of a'vending machine showing further devices for preventingunlawful operation thereof and a modified arrangement of packageejector; Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional View taken on line 88 ofFigure 7 and Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line,9?9 of Figure 7.

Referring to the drawings, 10 denotes a cabinet for a vending machinewhich comprises a horizontal shelf 11 for the coin operating mechanismand an upright rear magazine 12 for the articles being dispensed. Thecabinet is constructed preferably of metal and may contain any number ofvending units arranged side by side and of exactly the sameconstructionso that in describing this invention in detail it will suffice to referto but one such unit.

The cabinet proper comprises a base member 10 which extends under boththe shelf 11 and magazine 12, as illustrated clearly in Figure 2, andwhich supports a pair of spaced partitions 13 between each two sectionsof the magazine. Disposed between each pair of partitions 13 are twoupright guide'bars 14L, one being arranged adjacent the rear wall 15 ofthe magazine 12 and the other directly in front of the first and,substantially midway the length of the partitions. A pair of bars thusdisposed act as a guide for one side of a stack of packages or boxes 16containing the merchandise bei ing offered for sale. Therefore it willbe clear that each unit in the magazine is merely separated from theadjacent unit by the partitions 13 and rods or bars 14:. The lowermostpackage 16 rests upon the upper edge of one partition 13 ofadjacentpairs, as illustratively exemplified in dotted lines in Figure 1. Thelower end of the rear wall 15 of the magazine projects to an elevationcorresponding with a point within the space occupied by the rear end ofthe second box 16 of the stack, so that as the lowermost box is pushedrearwardly from under the stack the boxes resting thereon will becompelled to remain behind. In order that the boxes 16 may be visibletothe purchaser a window 17 is installed in the front wall 18 before eachstack of boxes.

Referring now to the shelf 11, the latter comprises an upright frontwall 19 which parallels the front wall 18 of the magazine and projectsto a height corresponding with the height of the partition walls 13, endwalls 20, and a fiat counterplate 21 which -extends from the wall 19 tothe wall 18 and chine. Disposed below the plate 21 and spaced therefrom,the thickness of the com 22 intended to operate the machine, is a secondplate 23 of similar dimensions, the plate 23 serving as top for theunderlying chamber 24 in which the coins 22 collect. A passageway 22 forthe coin 22 and its operating mechanism is established for each unit bydisposing a strip of metal 25 between the plates 21 and 23, the edges ofadjacent strips 25 being spaced apart a distance slightly greater thanthe diameter of the coin 22.

Slidable in the passageway 22 is a coin slide 26 comprising a straightmetal band of a length equal to that of the passageway and provided atits inner end with a turned down portion 27. The width of the band 26 issuch that the latter may be projected freely between the adjacent wallsof the partitions 13. Carried at the angle of the band 26 and portion 27is an ejecting plate 28, which is hinged to the angle and yieldably heldin upright position by a spring 29, and which is capable of swingingrearwardly against the spring 29 from an upright position to a positionlevel with the plane of the slide 26. The outer or uppermost edge of theplate 28 is just below the top face of the lowermost box 16 resting onthe partitions 13, so that as the plate 28 moves rearwardly only thelowermost box will be pushed from under the stack. The plate 28returning to its initial position is forced to swing rearwardly aboutits hinge and against the spring 29, as the stack of boxes 16 drops andthe next lowermost box takes the place of the one just discharged. Thefront ends of the boxes in the stack are spaced from the front wall 18 adistance which enables the plate to swing to its upright position, asshown in Figure 2.

The coin slide 26 is provided at a point well forward of the turned downend with a coin slot or opening 30, as illustratively exemplified,particularly in Figure 6. The opening 30 is virtually round and isdisposed in the coin plate so that by reducing the width thereof towardthe turned down portion an arc of the opening is open. This latteropening is designated 31 and is dis posed, when the coin slide 26 isadvanced to the first stage of its projected position, to admit the endof a spring operated dog lever 32, the same being pivoted about a pin33. The end or nose 34: of this lever is cut away at its under face sothat it is only substantially one half the thickness of the coin slide26. If a slug or washer having a gauge much thinner than that of thecoin intended for the opening, the slug or washer will merely slideunder the nose 34 without moving it out of the way of the ejector and asa consequence the mechanism will be blocked against further movement.

The coin is inserted in the machine through a coin slot or opening 35 inthe plate 21, which is disposed well back from the rearward end thereof,and when the slide 26 is completely retracted the two openings 30 and 35are in perfect register, thus admitting a coin by simply dropping thesame therein, which of course will rest on the under plate '23. Theunder plate 23 is provided with a round slot or opening 36 in the lineof movement rearwardly of the coin slide 26 and at a point correspondingwith the entrance of the nose 3d into the opening 31. The slot 36 isintended to be of a diameter slightly smaller than that of the propercoin to be used so as to enable a small coin or slug to drop throughbefore reaching the nose 3%.

It will be clear that thus far means have been included in the presentinvention to prevent operation thereof by means of coins or slugs whichare not of the regulation gauge and diameter, but it is still possibleto obtain washers, i. e. metal blanks which are of the correct diameterand gauge and which are provided with the usual center opening. Thepresent invention comprehends means for arresting the passage of such adevice through the machine. The means is illustrated particularly inFigure 5 and comprises a small square opening 37 cut in the under plate23 between the opening 36 and rear end, the opening 37 being adapted toaccommodate a square pin 38 carried by the upper end of an uprightspindle 39. The spindle 39 is slidably mounted adjacent its lower end inthe cross piece of an inverted stirrup strap 40, the parallel arms ofwhich are secured to the under side of the under plate 23, asillustratively exemplified in Figure 4. If an annular metal piece isplaced in the coin slot 35 and is carried along in the coin slide pastthe opening 36 and nose 34, the beveled end of the pin 38, which isnormally held depressed by the under surface of the coin slide 26, willbe forced upwardly into the opening in the washer by means of a spring41 coiled about the spindle 39 and bearing at one end against the crosspiece of the stirrup 40 and at the other end against a collar 42 fixedto the spindle adjacent the upper end thereof.

The coin slide 26 is manipulated from one position to another by meansof a thumb button 13 screwed into the plate and extending through a slot44, which is cut in the top plate 21, and which extends from front torear thereof between the front plate 19 and coin slot 35.

Referring again to the construction and design of the coin slide 26 anddog lever 32, it is to be noted that the latter is utilized as a stopfor the former when no coin is carried in the opening 30. The leveritself is a straight piece of metal pivoted, as described, at the rearedge of the plates 21 and 22 and closely adjacent the side of the slidehaving the opening 31. The nose portion 34 projects towards the coinplate 26 at right angles to the axis of the lever and when the slide isin normal position the point of the nose 34 rests against thelongitudinal side of the slide at the portion which has been cut away toreduce the width of the slide beyond the opening 30. The lever 32 isyieldably held b a spring so as to constantly contact wit and ride alongthe side of the coin plate 26. It will be clear then that if no coin isin the opening 30 and the plate 26 is pushed rearwardly, the nose willbe brought into contact with the toe 46 formed by the cutaway portion orarc-shaped opening 31 and prevent further movement to release a package16. On the other hand if the proper coin is in the slot 30 when the coinplate 26 is proin a position to be held against the side of the plate 26forward of the opening 31, in which case the rearward movement of theplate 26 may continue until the package 16 is rejected and the coin hasbeen carried beyond the inner end of the under plate 23 and has droppedinto the compartment between the partitions 13.

Referring to Figures 7 8 and 9, the cabinet 10 comprises an uprightmagazine 12 in which the packages 16 are disposed transversely insteadof longitudinally of the magazine 12 as shown in Figure 2. The shelf 11consists of the bottom wall 10, front wall 19, plates 21 and 23, andcoin slide 26, the latter being provided at its delivery end with arectangularly shaped band 48 which in normal position is directlybeneath the magazine 12 to receive a package 16. The forward wall of theband 48 is provided with a portion which projects towards the front ofthe machine and into a slot 49 in the top wall 21. This portion forms asupport 50 which moves under the stack of packages 16 when the slide 26is being projected to deliver the package disposed within the walls ofthe band 48. As the band 48 returns the projection 50 reenters the slot49 and the lowermost package 16 which rested directly on the support 50,drops into the rectangular opening made by the band 48. In order thatthe package 16 does not drop below the band 48, a pair of rollers 51'are arranged directly below the path of movement of the band and beneaththe stack of packages.

In Figures 7 and 9, I have shown a means for forcing the coin 22 out ofthe opening 30 in the slide 26. It has been found that coins aresometimes coated with a paste which causes them to stick in the openingand fail to drop after being once moved past the releasing member 32. Ofcourse if this is done the slide may be withdrawn and a new packagedelivered and so 011 until the magazine is empty. To overcome this meansof defrauding machines of this character, I mount a spring 51 on theplate 21 and bend its free end to project over and into the gap 31 inthe slide so that when the coin in the slide is moved under the spring51 it will be forced out of the opening 30 and into the compartment 24.

It has also been found that the slide 26 is often provided with a coinand then projected just far enough to release a package. By withdrawingthe slide to its normal position again the coin will still be in theopening and may be projected again to release the next package and soon. I have overcome such an operation by providing one side of the slide26 with teeth 52 and a rounded nose 53 at its end. A pawl 54 is mountedto rotate on a spindle 55 depending from the plate 21, the pawl beingdisposed to allow the slide to move rearwardly but prevents the samefrom being returned until it has reached its full rearward position, i.e. to a position where the coin has dropped and is no longer effective.The pawl is held against the side of the slide 26 by a spring 56 whichis wound about the spindle 55 and which causes'the pawl to swing forwardin an anti-clock wise direction as it passes beyond the nose 53, thusenabling the teeth 52 to ass the pawl 54 in the reverse direction witout interference. A wide notch 57 is cut in the side of slide rearwardlyof the teeth 52 to allow the pawl 54 to right itself under the influenceof its spring 56 and agaip take the position illustrated in Figure Theoperation of the present invention is very simple, it being merelynecessary to insert the proper coin into the coin slot 35 whereupon itwill drop into the opening 30 in the coin plate 26. The button .43 isthen pushed rearwardly carrying with it the coin plate 26 and coin 22,which first encounters the slot 36 and then the nose 34 of the lever,which is rocked out of the path of the advancing toe 46. The square pin38 is then approached and held down by the coin during passage thereofuntil it falls out of the coin plate beyond the under plate 23.Simultaneously with the rearward movement of the coin plate the ejectorplate 28 has engaged against the end of the lowermost box. but thiscontact of the plate 28 and end of boX 16 does not take place until thecoin has passed all of the testing and detecting devices. Continuedmovement of the knob or button 43 will cause the ejector plate 28 tofinally push the package from under the stack to fall into a chute orany suitable arrangement for delivery to the customer, not

shown. The operation of each individual device effected by a slug orunauthorized medium has already been described in detail and it is notbelieved to be necessary to repeat the description. Having successfullyejected a package, the coin plate is returned to its initial positionready to receive the next coin. As usual the stack of packages in themagazine 12 is weighted down by a weight 47 comprising a block of metalsubstantially the same dimensions as those of a package With theexception of the height and length which are considerably greater thanthe corresponding dimensions of a package. The added height. is utilizedto prevent movement of the block 47 past the rear wall of the magazine12 and the added length is to prevent the ejector plate 28 from havingsufiicient space in which to return to its upright position after thelast package has been ejected.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is In a coinoperated vending machine, a coin carrier comprising a bar having a coinslot opening out on one side of the carrier, a pivoted lever projectinginto said slot and having a stepped end to embrace the edge of the coinand prevent movement of the carrier unless a coin of the proper gauge isbeing carried, an underplate upon which the carrier and coin aresupported, said underplate having two openings disposed in the overlyingpath of movement of the coin one opening being disposed short of thesaid 7 means to engage the carrier and of a diameter slightly smallerthan that of the proper coin to allow small devices to drop through thecoin slot and opening, a strap spaced from the under plate and providedwith an opening registering with the second opening in the said underplate, an upright shoul dered spindle arranged in said alined openingsand having an end projecting through the second opening in theunderplate and a spring supporting the spindle and abutting the shoulderthereof at one end and the strap at. the other, said spring beingarranged to project the end of said spindle into an annular devicedisposed in the coin slot to prevent further movement of the carrier.

In testimony whereof he has affixed his signature.

DAVE LAZAR.

